Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Kids Kids Deluxe Backpack

Pretty disappointed. The water bottle holders are already tearing and my son has only had this a month. Not the quality I was expecting for llbean or the price.

The initial backpack that was sent to us had defective straps, and LL Bean, as usual, was great about sending us a replacement right away. However, I am very disappointed in the quality of this particular backpack. We have a junior backpack that has lasted over 6 years with no issues. This deluxe bookpack is great, overall, and has generous capacity and lots of organizational pockets. However, the side pockets are a major design and construction flaw. After only a few weeks of regular, intended use, the side pocket mesh started coming apart at the seam. Since that "hole" developed, my daughter has not used the side pocket at all as she is concerned that it'll get worse. The mesh construction is very flimsy and I am not surprised that this happened. When I contacted customer service, I was told that I could return the item. When I asked whether this was a known issue, I was told it was not a known issue. However, in reading reviews on this bookpack, it appears that it is a well-known quality issue. I am hesitant to exchange this for yet another one of the same bookpacks as I fear the quality will be exactly the same as the others. Not sure it's worth the hassle of exchanging. I am very disappointed as I love LL Bean products and expect better quality than this.

Absolute disappointment. I bought two of these backpacks this summer and the zipper is constantly sticking on both of them. Zipper keeps getting stuck on the fabric that covers the zipper. It's a bad design! Why does a zipper need to be covered anyway? So disappointing for how much these backpacks cost!

This book bag's zipper has already broken & the bag is unusable. Is there anyway it can be replaced?

We have always loved LL Bean products. They have been our go-to for many years. However, the buckle on my son's backpack broke within weeks. We sent that back, waited for several months for the same color to be in stock, and received a new one in the spring. Now, the strap on this second pack has almost completely frayed and is hanging on by just a few more threads. I reached out to the company, and unfortunately, the color of this pack will not be back in stock until next fall. We are very disappointed.

I like this backpack for grad school. The waterproof feature has kept my belongings dry, and it fits a ton. I also like that it doesn't make me look like I'm going camping. HOWEVER, I am really disappointed in the construction of the side mesh pockets. About a week after purchasing, the webbing on the side pockets started to come away from the elastic band at the top of the pocket. The hole grew bigger each time I used the pocket. I reached out to LL Bean and they immediately sent me a new one. It's now been about two weeks of using the new backpack, and the same thing happened! I'm not overstuffing the pocket; I'm just putting a regular size water bottle inside. Functional side pockets are really important in a backpack so it's disappointing to have this issue twice. I imagine the side pockets will become useless soon.

It took much longer to get than expected . The bag is fine but I would have liked to be informed on the time frame and when it would be shipped.

We bought this book pack for my daughter and the side pockets started ripping apart within a month. The design should a lot stronger since it is a pocket that is used to carry wattle bottles and other things that kids want to have easy access to. In order to get a replacement, I have to send it to LLBean, wait for them to evaluate if it is manufacturers problem or misuse, meanwhile what is she supposed to use to bring her school stuff everyday?

I have purchased several of these bags while trying others. These have always been the best. Now two week after school started and the backpack zipper broke I have to order a new bag and hope they will stand by their guarantee. My kid CAN'T go to school without a backpack so he must use a broken one unless I order another brand new bag. I'm so irritated, but placed the order hoping I get the refund.

My son had this for a few months and we love it but the canvas got stuck in the zipper and the zipper came apart. I had my backpack like this for 10 + years. Disappointed in this one now.

I usually love these bags. My son has had the same one and used it for several years. However my daughter got this one, used it for one week and the straps have already broken. Pretty disappointed.

I purchased my teen a backpack last summer for use this past school year. The backpack will not make it through another year and barely made it through this past year. Both mesh water bottle pockets are torn at the seam. Tore about 5 months into the school year. The zipper pulls are frayed. The reflective material at the front of the backpack is peeling and some seams appear ready to give. He did not carry heavy books to school, but did carry a small laptop since most work has been online. I have always purchased LL Bean backpacks in the past and they have always lasted years and been good enough for donation when we tired of the color or print. My husband purchased another pack last summer for work from a different company and it is still going strong, was less expensive, and has put up with a lot of heavy use. Really disappointed with LL Bean lack of quality lately. I should have paid attention that the good reviews were based on packs purchased in the good old days when Bean products were top quality. Bummed that I will have to look for another company for our school bag needs.

I thought we would get years out of this bag, but unfortunately after just a couple of months one of the zippers is already broken. Disappointed didnt even last a school year

Strap ripping after a month My kids have used LL Bean backpacks for years mainly without issues. My 3rd grader got this one at the beginning of this year and the handle is already ripping off--he does not carry much in it. Very disappointed.

I ordered this for my son when school started and a few months later the straps have started to come off. We ordered another version as we had previously had exceptional service from a previous order. Hope the new one provides much better service for him.

I bought one of these backpacks for my son two years ago and the material seemed thinner than the llbean backpacks I'd bought before. He used it for a few weeks when the water bottle mesh broke loose. A few more weeks, the seams started to go. I called because it seemed clear the bag was defective, but they wanted me to send it in while they repaired the bag. That would have meant weeks without a backpack. Other bags we've gotten didn't have the thin feeling material or the failing seams. It might have been bad luck, but I was disappointed that they couldn't simply replace the bag before asking me to send back the defective one.

Zips of main big compartments keep getting stuck. Never happened before with LL Bean school backpacks over the past 8 years. Will see down the flap that keeps getting stain zipper. Disappointing.

After owning LOTS of duffles, totes, etc from LLBean I thought this would be a winner for my boys. After 3 weeks the strap tore on one and then the zipper broke on the second. Less than two months of use and both are ready for the trash. Definitely made for a lighter load of books.

Two zippers have already broken (less than a month old). A teacher had to cut the backpack at school, because the zipper was stuck and wouldn't budge. This is the first of several L. L. bean backpacks that we have had trouble with, so it is very discouraging to get such a low quality one that also want cheap.

My daughter has only had this backpack for two months, and has only used it for 5 weeks. While it is big enough to store her books, the two side mesh pockets have already torn (she only uses those for water bottles). This is not the quality I expected given the price.

Zipper broke after two weeks. Very disappointed in quality, but also that I could not replace the items due to back order for months

I bought this for my elementary school age child and the zipper repeatedly sticks. And this evening, the zipper was stuck so bad that I ended up separating the teeth on one side (this was with a healthy amount of dish soap). Fortunately, there are 2 sliders on these zippers but is disappointing given the price and the relatively little use it has received since my child was virtual last year.

3 days into the school year, my daughter's side pocket is already ripped. She only keeps a water bottle in there. Our other backpack didnt have this problem.

This is a great backpack in theory...very roomy and comfortable. We only used it Feb-May of last year...4 months...and now 2 weeks of school this year. There is so much fabric over the zipper portion that it has repeatedly gotten stuck. This past time it's so bad that I can't release it and the main compartment is completely useless...which is where she keep her giant binder. Not very happy for less than 5 months of use considering what we paid for these backpacks. With MUCH less fabric over the zipper to prevent this problem, this would no doubt be a 5 star backpack.

I have been buying LL Bean backpacks for at least 20 years. This backpack zipper is not up to par with the past purchases. One of the double zippers already broke after less than 1 week of use. It still looks great and is usable I just expect more from LL Bean.